The Endzone Garden Thread

Anyone here grow Brussels sprouts as a fall/winter crop? I’m in zone 6b/7a, so anyone in NC mountains, Upstate SC, TN, KY, SW VA, etc. it freezes here, but generally not around the clock for long stretches.

I’m curious if you start seed indoors while waiting for September to cool off, how big are they when you transplant, and which varieties you plant.

@Orangeslice13, I think I remember that you winter garden, but I might be confused

@GVF, because I think you garden up on the Plateau, and you seem to grow everything 😁

I'm trying. You need to get them started asap. Brussels are about 100 days to harvest. Frost won't really hurt them early on, but improves the flavor. Or so I've read. I planted some in may. and trying to start seedlings now as a back up. The growth on what I planted hasn't been much to date. THey've been 4-6 inches for a bit. Waiting them out to see if they come on later. My first attempt at growing. If my seedling get a good start, I'm setting them out as well and see what happens.
 
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All my work on my Basil farm has taken a big dump. I think the 100 degree plus stretch kilt all my plants. Wondering if I start some more will they make.

Edit: anyone grow basil in full/afternoon sun?
 
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I'm trying. You need to get them started asap. Brussels are about 100 days to harvest. Frost won't really hurt them early on, but improves the flavor. Or so I've read. I planted some in may. and trying to start seedlings now as a back up. The growth on what I planted hasn't been much to date. THey've been 4-6 inches for a bit. Waiting them out to see if they come on later. My first attempt at growing. If my seedling get a good start, I'm setting them out as well and see what happens.
I read somewhere (can't find the reference now) that Brussels like a soil temp of ~70-75°. Lord knows we're above that. I'm going to start them indoors, maybe plant them out in early September. I'm having a hard time direct seeding, between the birds and the cat sprawling in the beds. The cat who is supposed to be scaring off the birds. Anyway, I figure I can rig something up with row cloth and plastic to keep them going longer than usual, unless we have a mini-Ice Age this fall.
 
All my work on my Basil farm has taken a big dump. I think the 100 degree plus stretch kilt all my plants. Wondering if I start some more will they make.

Edit: anyone grow basil in full/afternoon sun?
I've about decided that basil is the most fragile plant ever, at least for me, when I grow them in pots. I guess if I start planting a lot of it, I'm going to treat it like lettuce and pick the leaves when they're babies.

Mine liked full sun at first, but they sure didn't like full heat.
 
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If I could figure out a reliable way to keep the eejit cat off of them, I'd do the same. At some point, I'm going to have to break down and build some sort of stupid chicken wire raised bed cover.
One reason I’ve switched to pot farming. Keeping things out of the pots is way easier
 
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If I could figure out a reliable way to keep the eejit cat off of them, I'd do the same. At some point, I'm going to have to break down and build some sort of stupid chicken wire raised bed cover.

If you do that, you can just add some plastic later for a row tunnel when it cools off
 
One reason I’ve switched to pot farming. Keeping things out of the pots is way easier
Do you use glazed or unglazed pots? I use unglazed terra cotta, and except for the rosemary and lantana, it keeps me on my toes making sure the other herbs are getting enough water.
 
I've about decided that basil is the most fragile plant ever, at least for me, when I grow them in pots. I guess if I start planting a lot of it, I'm going to treat it like lettuce and pick the leaves when they're babies.

Mine liked full sun at first, but they sure didn't like full heat.

Been a really weird year for herbs for me. Nothing I seeded in my usual spots by the house came up. THe basil, tarragon, chive and mint plants I set out have barely grown, if not backwards. My marigilds by the maters I sowed 3 times. They are prob still not 2" high. and only about 4 basils I seeded with them even came up. I usually have great herb growing on that west wall of my house. Gets decent afternoon sun with monster tree protection from excessive heat.
 
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Do you use glazed or unglazed pots? I use unglazed terra cotta, and except for the rosemary and lantana, it keeps me on my toes making sure the other herbs are getting enough water.
I’ve got some really expensive ones that do fine. The lesser expensive ones tend to break in the cold. Those I replaced with plastic. I tend to like the ones that look like wooden barrels.
I also like galvanized tubes
 
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Been a really weird year for herbs for me. Nothing I seeded in my usual spots by the house came up. THe basil, tarragon, chive and mint plants I set out have barely grown, if not backwards. My marigilds by the maters I sowed 3 times. They are prob still not 2" high. and only about 4 basils I seeded with them even came up. I usually have great herb growing on that west wall of my house. Gets decent afternoon sun with monster tree protection from excessive heat.
My zinnias were like your marigolds.

Boy, when marigolds and zinnias don't want to start from seed, it's like the official End of the World!
 

Thanks for the info.

Here's what their web site said:

Blue Ribbon = This bean bears well good for canning,freezing and as a fresh snap bean. Brown and striped seed about 5 1/2 to 6" long.Reaches a height of 6' to 7' . Grown in Overton Co. TN by Bilbrey and Wright families for over 60 years. Limited supply of this rare bean . Pkt. will contain 50 or more seed.


"Limited supply of this rare bean."
 
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Thanks for the info.

Here's what their web site said:

Blue Ribbon = This bean bears well good for canning,freezing and as a fresh snap bean. Brown and striped seed about 5 1/2 to 6" long.Reaches a height of 6' to 7' . Grown in Overton Co. TN by Bilbrey and Wright families for over 60 years. Limited supply of this rare bean . Pkt. will contain 50 or more seed.


"Limited supply of this rare bean."

Upside is I did find on their website there is no limit to packages you can order. Down side is the website is their only technology. You basically write your order on a sheet of paper, include a check or money order, and mail it to them.
 

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